updated 01:15 pm EST, Tue January 4, 2011

Units exchange storage for portability

Storage maker Lexar has announced two upcoming backup drives, the Echo MX and ZX. Although offering less storage than conventional backup options, the drives are essentially USB sticks, making them significantly more portable. Each contains automatic backup software offering 128-bit AES encryption of data.

The ZX is the low-end device, coming in 8, 16 or 32GB capacities. The 8GB model has peak read and write speeds of 28MBps and 10MBps; writing goes up to 15MBps for the 16 and 32GB options. MX buyers can choose between 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128GB sizes, which are limited to 28MBps read and 10MBps write on smaller drives, but offer up to 30MBps read and 17MBps write by the 128GB level.

The MX design also sports an always-on capacity meter. It should arrive sometime in the first quarter of 2011, while the ZX is due in the spring. MX models will range in cost from $45 to $500; ZX prices should fall between $45 and $140.

We've come a long way, baby

I remember doing backups to a stack of 1.44MB floppies and being wowed by ZIP discs that could hold 100MB. 10 years from now we're laugh at these "enormous" USB devices that hold "only" 128gig.

Frankly though, I don't see why one would pay a premium for this form factor for its stated purpose. 128gig thumb drive is really cool. 128gig backup device that I can carry in a coin pocket doesn't seem worth the cost. Why pay $500 for 128gig rather than $60 for 500gig drive based on a laptop drive?

Re: Reliability

Think about a 256gig SSD based drive. About the same price as the thumb drive with twice as much storage and probably better data reliability. Still pocket sized, and big enough to be less likely to lose it.